Sharad Poornima

 Sharad Poornima is also known as Kumar Poornima or Kojagiri Poornima. It is the day when Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped.  Kojagiri literally means “Who is Awake” (Kon Jagrat).  Myth goes that Lakshmi Blesses the beings who are awake on Kojagiri Poornima.

The famous Ras Lila of Lord Krishna and Radha also took place on the night of Sharad Poornima.

It is also the day when Moon is celebrated. During this phase Moon is closer to earth and the rays Moon shed have curative properties. This traditional celebration of Moon is known as Kaumudi Celebration. Kaumudi in Sanskrit means Moon Light.

It is said that Supreme Goddess after killing Mahishasura on Dasara could not shed her Anger and Rage so she rested for few days and after cooling herself down took the form of Resplendent Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagiri poornima.

Lakshmi’s Four Hands Symbolise four directions & four ends of Human Life i.e. Dharma, Kama, Artha & Moksha. Her Red sari indicates activity. The Lotus indicates that while enjoying the wealth one should not get obsessed with it (Lotus flower though it grows in water never gets wet from the water it grows). The two Elephants standing beside her indicate Name and Fame implying that people should earn wealth to bring happiness in society.

It also signifies the end of Chaturmas a period during which Lord Vishnu goes to sleep leaving Cosmos in care of Goddesses and his Human Avatars.  Vishnu Sleeps from 11^th day of Shukla Paksha in Ashadh to 11^th Day of Shukla Paksha in Kartik. During his Slumber his Avtar’s on earth Ram, Krishna & Vaman ends up killing Rakshas & Asuras Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Naraka, and Bali.

During Chaturmas Shukra the Guru of Asuras uses his knowledge of Sanjivani vidya to rejuvenate the fertility of Goddess Prithvi. The seeds that are sowed during this period germinate and turn into crops generating food for mankind. This period is also known for its symbolic violence cutting of crops signifying that wealth generation involves violence.

Lakshmi is closely associated with Water which flows continuously. Hence she is known as Chanchala. Sharad Poornima marks the flow of wealth. Farmers who reap crops exchange their wealth with all the echelons of the society viz. Goldsmith, Ironsmith, Cloth Weavers, Potters, Carpenters, Herdsman and so on. This probably gives us a message that our Rishis were excellent Arthashastris or Economists.

Significance of Dusherra explained Mythologically.

Dusherra is celebrated as the last day of Navratri, after Goddess Durga Slain Asura Mahisha symbolically signalling harvesting of crops, turning Green Earth into Red Earth.  It marks the beginning of Rabi Harvest season and Vedic Gods and Goddesses were invoked to rejuvenate the fertility of the soil and fields.

It also marks the beginning of war season as during the ancient times kings used to cross frontiers to conquer new territories in neighbouring states. This practice was known as SIMOLLANGHAN.

The word DASARA or DUSHARA Originated from Sanskrit Word Dasha meaning ten and Hara meaning defeat, referring to Lord Rama’s victory over ten headed Rakshas king Ravan [Dashanan].

Ravana’s Ten Heads symbolized Ten Senses [Five Action & Five Perception] which he could not control; this is in contrast with Dasharatha [Ram’s Father who had controlled his Senses and had power and vigor of 10 Chariot Warriors]

The Ten Senses Ravan could not control were  Kamavasana (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Moha( Attachment), Lobha (Greed), Mada (Overpride), Matsara(Jealousy), Swartha (Selfishness), Anyayaa (Injustice), Amanavta (Cruelty) & Ahankara (Ego). People pray to Goddess Durga to get rid of these qualities from the household.

Dasara is also known as Vijayadashmi meaning victory on Dashmi the tenth Lunar Day.

Dusherra also has significance for Guru and Shishya Tradition:

Kautsa, a disciple of Rishi Vartantu, had to pay 140 million gold coins to his guru as guru dakshina. He did not have the required gold coins hence he went to Generous King Raghu of Ayodhya seeking his help. King Raghu unfortunately had donated all his wealth after performing a Sacrifice. Raghu did not want to disappoint and turn away Kautsa so he approached Indra and asked him to give 140 Million Gold Coins or get ready for the War. Indra in turn requested Kubera to rain the Gold coins on Aapti / Shami trees in and around Ayodhya. Kubera did as told and Kautsa collected 140 million Gold Coins and gave the remaining gold coins to King Raghu who in turn distributed it among his subjects. In remembrance of this incident people still present leaves of Aapti, on Dasara to each other as Gold.

It is also the day when Ravana became the Supreme Guru of Lord Ramchandra. A dying Ravana on the battlefield revealed and shared with Rama his immense knowledge on 10 Subjects : Darshan Shastra & Vedas (Philosophy), Neeti Shastra (Politics), Sankhya Shastra (Numerology), Jyotish Shastra (Astrology),  Vastu Shastra (Architecture), Artha Shastra(Economics), Nritya Shastra (Dance), Ayurveda (Medicine), Sangeet Shastra (Music) & Natya Shastra (Theatre& Fine Arts). This knowledge helped Rama in making him a better ruler in his later life as king of Ayodhya.

Since the creation of the universe the two forces Positive (+) and Negative (-) are working and will keep on working till the end of Universe. The fight of Supremacy between Positive and Negative forces will always go on.  These forces help in maintaining a balance in Cosmos. Boons and Curses translate into Positive and Negative forces and are integral part of Vedic Mythology.

 In cosmic sense Gods and Asuras fight continuously for the wealth. Gods pull the wealth from Asuras and Asuras pull it back from them and then the balance is restored. It’s a fight between beings residing in Sky (Swarga) and sub terrain (Patal).

Despite having all the wealth by their side Sky Gods are always insecure as they cannot create wealth like Asuras.

There is also continuous battle between Manavas on one side and Rakshasas & Daitya’s on other side. This battle is for the control of Prakriti [Nature] and Sanskriti [Culture]. Rakshas followed Matsya Nyaya meaning Might is Right while Manavas follow Dharma or code of conduct laid down by Manu.

Meaning of Dharma is changed on time to time basis and new rules are formulated to suit the convenience of Gods, Manavas & Rakshasas.

Who was Ravan? Ravan is Jaya the celestial doorkeeper of Vishnu along with his twin brother Vijaya. Jaya & Vijaya were cursed by 4 Primal sages, collectively known as Sanat Kumars, to take 4 births to experience the pain of living. In their earlier birth they were Asuras Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyap. In their next Birth they were Rakshasas Ravana and Kumbhakarna. Vishnu took Avtar’s to slain them and to facilitate their reentry into Vaikuntha.

This justifies the Inhuman behavior of Ravan and Kumbhakarna to call upon the Lord Vishnu to end their life on earth, can be said as reverse bhakti.

Dusherra symbolizes victory of Good over Evil. When powerful people cannot control their Lust, Greed and Desire they change the Code of Dharma to create new rules which Suit their ambitions and end up pondering the Wealth of Prithvi which is meant to be shared among all her subjects. It ends up destroying the Prakriti and Sanskriti. Vijayadashmi teaches us to eliminate our Evil and Negative tendencies to Protect Prakriti and Sanskriti.

Navratri Explained Through Symbolism

Garba  / Navratri is an ancient Vedic Annual Harvest Festival symbolising the end of Kharrif & Rabbi Season, celebrated twice in hindu months Of Aswin  & Chaitra. 

The name Garba originated from Sanskrit word Garbha (Womb). Symbolising the womb of mother Earth / Prithvi with a deep ( lamp) placed in it. During the Navratri, which literally means Nine nights,  three Primal Goddessess are worshipped.  

During the first three nights Goddess of empowerment Shakti (Durga) is worshipped, next 3 Nights Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi is worshipped and during the last three nights Goddess of Wisdom Sarswati is worshipped.

During the Vedic times, Forests were associated with Goddess Kali the wild one and the fields were associated with Goddess Gauri the demure one.

Forests, were symbolised as untamed territory & were unploughable (ahalya).

Fields, were symbolised as Garbha that provided food to all living beings.

In Asvin Shukla paksha when rains are weaning and crops are ready for harvesting and when  Earth is green with vegetation, the festival was celebrated for nine nights by bringing three elements together,  Garbha [Earthen Pot symbolising the Womb], Women and the fields.

The earthen Pot was placed in center of the field, filled with water and crops and the women used to dance around it in circular formation..

The Dance in circular formation symbolises Continuty of life (Sansar) i.e  Birth, Life, Death and Rebirth. Also known as Kaal Chakra of Lord Mahadev or Mahakaal. It also symbolises Ritu Chakra the on going cycle of seasons as well as cycle of fortune which reminds us the bad period  will end with the good period.

During the dance the women bend down and clap to thank the Earth and Asuras and then look upwards and clap to thank the devas or Sky Gods for the rains which helped them to produce the food to sustain.  This ritual in the modern world came to be known as Garba the dance of Eart Womb from which crops grow for the sustainance of the society

Sky Gods or Devas were looked as favorable to mankind as they  helped Manavas  to pull out the wealth  hoarded by Asuras, the subterrain beings.  Asuras who stay in Patal have knowledge of Sanjivani Vidya the ancient science of rejuvenation which helps them to rejuvinate the crops and any other wealth found in patal. 

Goddess Lakshmi is daughter of  Pulomi  who is the daughter of Brighu the Guru of Asuras and hence Asuras are always blessed with the Wealth for which Devas eternally fight with Asuras. Lakshmi(Wealth) always resides with Asuras in Patala.

Navratri  gives us all a very significant message, 

Respect Mother Earth, the Goddess who sustains the society. 

Respect Women who were treated as goddesses in Vedic Age for their ability to sustain life within their body,

and to Respect Vanaspati / Vegetation which helps in sustaining life on the Earth.

The message holds significance in modern world where we are ruthlessly disrepecting Women, Earth and Plantation and fast moving towards destruction.

Navratri  ends with Goddess Durga slaying Asura called Mahisha symbolising harvesting or cutting of the crops.